Sykes, Hendricks go to runoff in Birmingham's District 4 BOE race

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Former Birmingham City Councilwoman Gwen Sykes and Daagye Hendricks, the daughter of former Birmingham City Councilman Elias Hendricks, will head to a runoff election to determine who will represent District 4 on the Birmingham Board of Education.

With all but one precinct counted on Tuesday night the two fought to a virtual tie, and neither garnered enough votes to win outright. Sykes had 1,235 votes, or 41 percent of the total cast, to Hendricks' 1,185 votes, or 39 percent. Rodney Huntley received 570 votes. A candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote to win outright.

In interviews late Tuesday both Sykes and Hendricks said they were prepared for several more weeks of campaigning, and both said they expect the school system's possible loss of accreditation to be the biggest issue before voters.

Board members have in the past failed to work together, Sykes said, creating a poisonous environment.

"We've got to try to work together and try to have a positive environment," Sykes said.

Hendricks said that in addition to the issue of accreditation, she'll focus on finding ways to increase parental involvement in the schools and to present children with positive role models from the community.

Both candidates said the campaign had been challenging, and both said they feel like they have the edge heading into a runoff.

"It was a good campaign," Sykes said. "It was a lot of work. But I'm ready to go for the long haul.